Calculate your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and find out what it says about how your body fat is distributed. We explain how to measure your waist and hips, the reference values, and why in lipedema it is worth looking beyond WHR.
The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is an anthropometric measure that relates your waist circumference to your hip circumference. It is used to estimate how body fat is distributed, especially around the abdomen, and it is a reference indicator of cardiometabolic risk.
WHR = waist (cm) ÷ hip (cm)
Example: 80 cm ÷ 105 cm = 0.76Place the tape at the narrowest part of the abdomen, roughly between the last rib and the navel. Stand relaxed and do not pull tight.
Wrap the tape around the widest part of the buttocks, keeping it parallel to the floor. Note both measurements in centimetres.
Enter your details in the calculator right below and get your WHR (and also your BMI and waist-to-height ratio) instantly.
Enter your details once and get your BMI, your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), your waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and the indicative result of the lipedema test. This is an educational tool: it does not replace medical diagnosis.
This tool is indicative and educational. It does not constitute a medical diagnosis nor replace the assessment of a healthcare professional. Lipedema Advanced Care | Medical direction: Dr. Alexo Carballeira.
The waist-to-hip ratio is interpreted differently in women and men. The WHO sets the threshold for substantially increased cardiometabolic risk at 0.85 in women and 0.90 in men. The table below adds an intermediate band as guidance.
| Women | Men | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Below 0.81 | Below 0.91 | Normal |
| 0.81 – 0.85 | 0.91 – 1.00 | Elevated risk |
| Above 0.85 | Above 1.00 | Very high risk |
A high WHR indicates greater fat accumulation around the abdomen (an "android" pattern), associated with higher cardiometabolic risk. The WHO reference threshold is 0.85 in women and 0.90 in men; the intermediate bands in the table are guidance. It is an indicative figure, not a diagnosis.
WHR estimates fat around the abdomen (central fat). In lipedema, however, fat accumulates mainly in the legs and arms and spares the trunk, so WHR on its own does not capture lipedema: a normal WHR does not rule it out.
That is why we use it as a complementary measure, alongside BMI, the waist-to-height ratio and a clinical assessment. In our practice we assess each case with a targeted history, palpation of the tissue and clinical staging of lipedema, beyond any single index. Learn what lipedema is and how it is diagnosed.
If you suspect your case could be lipedema, combine WHR with these tools.
A good predictor of cardiometabolic risk, complementary to WHR. Calculate it in the waist-to-height ratio.
Relates weight and height as a general figure. See the BMI calculator.
9 key signs to guide you on whether you could have lipedema. Take the lipedema test.
Divide your waist circumference by your hip circumference, both in centimetres (WHR = waist ÷ hip). For example, 80 cm waist and 105 cm hips: 80 ÷ 105 = 0.76.
The WHO sets the threshold for substantially increased cardiometabolic risk at a WHR of 0.85 in women and 0.90 in men. Some educational tables add an intermediate band as guidance; in any case these are reference values, not a diagnosis.
It is used to estimate body fat distribution, especially abdominal fat, and to give guidance on the associated cardiometabolic risk. It does not measure total body fat and is not a diagnosis.
The waist, at the narrowest part of the abdomen (between the last rib and the navel); the hips, at the widest part of the buttocks, with the tape parallel to the floor and not pulled tight.
It is a complementary measure: WHR assesses abdominal fat, but lipedema builds up fat in the legs and arms, so a normal WHR does not rule it out. It is best interpreted alongside other measures and a specialised assessment.
